The final Sunday of the regular season came with natural drama. Playoff spots were still up for grabs and momentum heading into the postseason is always a plus.

However, a tie nearly allowed a team to truly back into the playoffs. Needing only to beat or tie San Francisco at home, the Broncos lost to the 49ers in overtime.

The upset allowed the Chiefs to cap an improbable playoff run. After beating Jacksonville, Kansas City still needed Tennessee to lose to New England, Pittsburgh to beat Cincinnati and finally San Francisco to beat Denver.

After a 4-12 disaster of a season in 2005, the Jets are the biggest surprise participant in the deep AFC bracket. A win over the Raiders clinched a wild spot and means New York is hot heading into the playoffs, winning of five of six games.

The Chargers played with fire against the Cardinals. While the game was never really in doubt, both Phillip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson limped off the field during the game. San Diego ended the season on a 10-game winning streak and clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Heading into the season finale against Buffalo, Baltimore still had a chance to secure the top spot in the AFC. With the Chargers win, the Ravens had to settle for a first-round bye after winning a defensive struggle against the Bills.

If it's possible, the Patriots finished the season a quiet 12-4. New England looks to be hitting on all cylinders at the right time of year. Winners of three straight, the Patriots look to be peaking at the right time.

Although the Colts didn't look great against the Dolphins, Indianapolis kept Miami out of the end zone for the majority of the game. Peyton Manning passed Joe Montana on the career touchdown passing list, but the defense will still determine his Super Bowl fate.

The debate on how much to play your starters with nothing on the line was a short conversation in New Orleans. The Saints sat Drew Brees after just one series and had no problem watching the Panthers win in New Orleans. Despite a first-round bye, the Saints have lost two of three heading into the playoffs.

After clinching the NFC East and having already lost one quarterback for the season, the Eagles went with backup A.J. Feeley for most of the game against the Falcons. Even still, Philly piled onto Atlanta's woes and rides a five-game winning streak into a matchup with the Giants.

The Seahawks backed into the playoffs, losing three of four. Still, Seattle went on the road and won in Tampa Bay which is more than their divisional round opponent can say.

The Cowboys suffered their most embarrassing defeat of the season. With an opportunity to still win the NFC East, Dallas found a way to lose at home against the Lions. In typical Detroit fashion, even good things go bad. The win will cost the Lions the first pick in the draft.

So the playoffs are almost set. Yeah, there's a few spots still up for grabs, but there's a lot more on the line today.

There are jobs to be won or lost (think Mora, Jim and Green, Denny). Possibly some jobs to be vacated (Cowher, Bill and Favre, Brett)

There is momentum to take into the playoffs and injuries to be avoided.

We'll be watching and posting all day, and we want you to join in the fun. Leave a comment at the bottom of this post and if it's any good, we'll add it in and give you 15 minutes of Internet fame.

Bengals-Steelers:  Wow, so much to discuss for the first minute of coverage. They took about three seconds to start talking about Cowher's possibly leaving the Steelers. Then they go to kickoff and the Steelers try a tricky handoff on the return, which fails miserably. No sweat though, the Bengals bail em out with a personal foul after the play.

Bengals-Steelers: Cincy is the one fighting for the playoffs, so it makes sense that they are going for broke. But the Steelers (on defense at least) are bringing some serious heat as well. This season could definitely just be a hiccup for Pittsburgh.

Packers fan asks: What are the odds that this all happens for the Packers ... Packers win, Cardinals win, Lions win, Dolphins win, Vikings win, 49ers win, Panthers lose, Texans lose, Buccaneers lose. Well, when you say it like that ....

Jets-Raiders: New York takes the early 7-0 lead in a crucial game against the Raiders. If they win, they are in ... and if they win, it'll give them plenty of momentum heading into the postseason.

Patriots-Titans: Who doesn't want to see the Titans in the playoffs? With a transcendent talent at quarterback and a team with a flair for the dramatic, Tennessee is many fans' choice to get an AFC wild-card spot. What needs to happen for that to happen? Too much, really (sorry, America). The Titans first need to upset the AFC East champion Patriots, then hope the Bengals lose or tie the Steelers, the Broncos get beat by the 49ers and the Chiefs beat the Jaguars.

Seahawks-Buccaneers: The Seahawks backed into the NFC West division title during a three-game losing streak, thanks in part to the relative mediocrity in their division. Regardless of Sunday's outcome, a date with whoever loses the NFC East (unless, somehow, miraculously, the Packers find a way into the playoffs) lies ahead next weekend for the Seahawks.

Shadownoze says: I've seen quite enough bad calls this season and after all the improvements, I thought this cannot be happening!!! The ref who called the penalty against Terrance Newman in Cowboys vs Detroit for hitting a defenseless player was horrific. You cannot have made a worse call than that -- REVIEW IT, change to where you can REVIEW these plays with a challenge as well. Otherwise the Review program is as worthless as any wrong thing the NFL HAS EVER DONE!

Bengals-Steelers: So much for the Bengals looking fired up. I take it back. The Steelers have outplayed them at every turn.

Jaguars-Chiefs: Both teams need a lot of help to get into the playoffs, but have beaten some of the top teams in the NFL. Kansas City is the last team to beat San Diego, while the Jaguars have matched impressive wins with embarrassing losses. Not surprisingly, it's been a back and forth game.

Bengals-Steelers: Apparently somebody in Cincy is reading this and alerting the Bengals on the sidleine, because they are suddenly playing with some chutzpah.

Bengals-Steelers: Chad Johnson just made a catch over the middle and got body slammed something vicious. Now that will leave a lasting impression.

Bengals-Steelers: Man, this game just keeps getting more violent. T.J. Housmandzadeh just got rocked for the second time. He and Chad Johnson are taking a serious beating.

Jaguars-Chiefs: Desperate times call for desperate measures. In an effort to spark the Jaguars, Jack Del Rio has benched quarterback David Garrard in favor of Quinn Gray, who had not thrown a pass this season before today.

Steelers: Based on how they are playing today with nothing but pride on the line, they are going to be just fine next year. Even with that tough Willie Parker fumble in the fourth quarter and even if they end up losing.

Bengals: What a turn of events. That Willie Parker fumble turned into a 66-yard Chris Henry TD and suddenly the Bengals are winning.

Bengals-Steelers: Carson Palmer leads the Bengals on a clutch touchdown drive to take a 17-14 lead with just under three minutes remaining. That could give them a pretty big confidence boost next week.

Bengals: Once again, a bad kick attempt in the closing moments has the Bengals in trouble. This time Shayne Graham at least got the kick off, but it went wide right and left the game tied at 17-all and headed to OT.

The NFC EAST: The Lions beat the Cowboys, giving the Eagles the NFC East title. My poor brain cannot comprehend this turn of events. Good thing it's New Year's Eve and I can forget it al later.

Falcons-Eagles: Does the pressure on Jim Mora Jr. get even heavier if he loses to a bunch of backups today? It's a decent question because it could be on its way to happening.

Cowboys: Talk about a team with no-mentum, this is it. Losing three of four to end the season, including the finale against a Detroit team that's better off losing is not the way you want to go into the postseason.

Patriots: Speaking of teams with momentum, how bout the Pstriots? Bill Belichick's boys head into the playoffs on a thorough whipping of the Titans and holding a 12-4 record. Looks like the rumors of their demise were a bit premature.

Cutler out: Jay Cutler took a nasty hit to the head and was knocked out of the game against the 49ers. Yep ... that means Jake Plummer may have to lead the Broncos to the postseason after all.

DCBOB1956 chimes in: The Cowboys have just sunk to a new low in giving up 39 points to Detroit. This is the same team that had such momentum after Tony Romo started the run to the playoffs, now they will be lucky to get through game 1 in the playoffs.

Chargers-Cardinals: While Phillip Rivers has struggled down the stretch, he's playing well against Arizona. Despite leaving the game briefly with an ankle injury, Rivers has looked great since.

How bad are things for Detroit? Even the protests are lame.

About 100 people staged a walkout midway through the second quarter against the Bears, calling for Matt Millen's firing after yet another losing season.

But here's the embarrassing part: they had a big protest last year that drew 500 fans. That means 80 percent of the protestors don't even care any more.

Of course, since it was a Lions home game, half the fans there were Bears fans anyway.

OK fans, today is all about the playoffs in the NFL. Who can clinch ... who is blowing it, etc.

UPDATE: Out: Falcons; Bills

So we'll update this as we go, but feel free to join in by leaving a comment. Say something smart and we'll add it up here.

Speaking of which, this one was too good to bury at the bottom:

Stiggi says: The Giants? What else is new? I'm not surprised that the Saints are whipping them thoroughly. I've been a Giant fan since Frank Gifford was a rookie in 1951 and I have never been so disgusted with them as I am now. They should play as good as they talk. Tiki should thank Coach Coughlin, for stopping all the fumbles, which made him so good these past few seasons, instead of critizing him. Retire Tiki, I won't miss you. Shockey drops another one, wide open, just like his mouth. The Whitfield head butt? He learned from Frank Walker. Go ahead, replace Coughlin, but while you are at it, replace a bunch of big time under achievers, also. NFC East teams on the rise? Not the uh, "Big Blue."

Bengals-Broncos: By far the most brutal loss today has to be for the Bengals. To nearly tie the game in the final minute only to watch your holder fumble it away before the PAT has to hurt. The Seahawks can't even remotely compare, given that they backed in already.

Giants-Saints: At the risk of stating the obvious, fumbling punts when you desperately need to win to bolster your sagging postseason hopes ... not a good idea (we're talking to you, Chad Morton).

Stunner?: We probably shouldn't be surprised ... the Texans beat the Colts 27-24.  Maybe if they could get a few more games against the Jaguars and Colts, the Texans could be a title contender.

Cardinals-49ers:  San Francisco's slim playoff hopes are taking a beating at the hands of the Cardinals. Arizona's already up 20-6 and it's only halftime.

Rams-Redskins: Somehow the Rams stay alive. Steven Jackson ran a TD in midway through overtime after Jeff Wilkins botched a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation.

Bills-Titans: The legend of Vince Young could take another huge step today. With both teams alive for the playoffs, he stakes the Titans to a early 7-3 lead on a  touchdown t Bobby Wade. Or it could be Willis McGahee, who just returned te favor and gave the Bills a lead.

Craig says: Sorry Giants fans, the only New York team playing next month is the Jets. After Denver and the Bengals eliminate one hopeful, and the Patriots come out and play their game, the Jets will win the final two games and be post-season bound.

Saints going for broke: The Saints already have clinched a playoff spot ... but they're the ones playing like their postseason life is on the line. They've gone for it three times on 4th and short -- the most recent on 4th and goal -- and have converted all three times.

Coby says:  How scary are the Saints, last year 3-13 and lifeless, this year 10-5 and a Eagles win away from getting some much-needed rest, and I loved the guts Payton showed on 4th and goal, down by a point, went for the KO, they could've done the easy thing and taken the easy 3, but instead went for the throat, and also the reverse they ran, that's why Bush is scary, you don't know if it's going to him or not when he's in and that's tough, because a defensive player has to spy him and that ussually leaves a hole for a big run or someone single covered.

Justin says: How bout that Vince? Its was a glorious day that Houston pick Mario Williams. All I want for Christams is a playoff chance next weekend. One day at a time my friends. Go Titans!

Bills-Titans: This is the game I wish I could watch right now. Vince Young and J.P. Losman are having quite the duel.

Rabbit12 says: Arthur Blank, Falcons owner, should grant the coach's wish. He shold give him the ultimate Christmas gift of freedom so he can go and coach at his dream job. You might thimk that firing a guy on Christmas eve is hardcore but it is not. At least he won't have to think about it over the holiday. Go for MR. Blank. Also, Vick should sit!

Giants-Saints: Again, not to state the obvious, but giving up 20 unanswered points in a game that you pretty much need to win in order to bolster your failing playoff hopes ... not a good idea.

Justin says: Ok, after the first 5 games, who woulda thought we would hear - "Bills-Titans: This is the game I wish I could watch right now. Vince Young and J.P. Losman are having quite the duel." I am in the same boat, outta town forced to watch my computer screen waiting for the updates. It gives suspense a whole new meaning.

Giants-Saints: And now it looks like the pressure is starting to get to the Giants. Bob Whitfield just got hit with a 15-yard penalty for head butting a member of the Saints.

Sub4real says: Niners-Cardinals: Niners may no go to the playoffs this year, but you never know it could happen. Niners are back from the dead!

Patriots-Jaguars: If it's December, New England must be going on the road and punking a playoff-caliber contender in preparation for another run at the Super Bowl. Yep, it's December -- Patriots 24, Jaguars 14 with time running out on Jacksonville.

Whoops: We might have spoke too soon on the Patriots. The Jags calmly marched down to score a TD and pull within three. And now they've forced the Pats into a three-and-out and will get a chance to tie ... or even take the lead.

Powerful Panthers: Whatever slim chance Carolina has of making the playoffs can be directly attributed to Chris Weinke. Yeah, he threw 61 times ijn a oss two weeks ago. And yeah, he led the way in a blowout loss to Pittsburgh last week. But the heady veteran racked up 32 yards, completing four of his seven passes in a dominating 10-3 win over Atlanta. I believe the tag is necessary here.

We take it back: No ... we weren't speaking too soon on the Patriots. They've forced a fumble and are in position to run out the clock. See, we knew what we're talking about all along ...

For those of you who picked Shaun Alexander or Larry Johnson with the first pick of your fantasy draft, don't feel dumb. No, wait, what were you thinking?!

LaDainian Tomlinson scored his 30th and 31st touchdowns of the season in the first half against the Chiefs and broke Paul Hornung's single-season scoring record with 186 points. And that doesn't even include his two TD passes this season.

For those of you who picked Tomlinson and aren't winning your league, well, what's your excuse?